TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday February 22, 1979
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GAZETTE-TIMES
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Caution urged when
viewing eclipse
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The natural show of the century is'coming our
way next Monday and with it comes a potential
danger that can't be stressed too much.
The show is the total eclipse of the sun to be seen
in the Northwest an Morrow County lies almost in
the middle of its path and the potential danger is to
the viewers eyesight.
A total eclipse is caused by the moon coming
directly between the earth and the sun over a
gradual period of time. It is during the partial
eclipse that damage can occur to the eyes ; the sun's
rays partially obscured allowing easy viewing of the
partial eclipse. During this period the sun's rays are
bright enough to burn the retina of the eye which
cannot be corrected once the damage is done.
One of the best descriptions of this type of eye
damage was best given by the Oregon Journal.
Take a pair of glasses and smear vaseline over the
center of the lenses about the size of a quarter. Put
the glasses on and the blurred image is the
permanent damage that can occur by looking at the
sun during the partial eclipse.
We suggest carrying out this procedure with
children to graphically illustrate to them the reason
why they shouldn't look at the sun. The phenomonon
is so unusual the desire to look up at the sun as
everything becomes dark around you is almost
irresistable.
Stories relating to the eclipse appear on pages
one and three of this issue and one describes a
method of indirectly viewing the eclipse. Even if
this procedure is followed we recommend that adult
supervision is given children.
The safest and recommended way of viewing
the eclipse is to watch TV next Monday morning.
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Cantin urges County residents to 'band together
Editor:
I believe is is past time the people of Morrow County
should band together and save the hospital.
The hospital cannot survive without doctors and vacant
beds in the nursing home and limited use of the hospital are
causing it to go deeper in debt. It has been brought to the
board's attention the run-down condition and apparent lack
of maintenance of our hospital. During one meeting it was
asked that the lawn mowers, hoses and other equipment be
put under cover and the back ambulance entrance swept.
After one of the big snows we had a picture of the situation
taken of these mowers and hoses piled high with snow;
apparently the photographer was seen because within a day
or so the equipment was moved. Something was
accomplished.
Also during the snow storms , the sidewalks and
emerergency entrance were piled high with snow for several
days hoping it would thaw, I guess. Water stains on the
ceiling and walls are caused by gutters overflowing with
leaves.
The board wonders in dismay as to why the union is being
formed by the employees. These people had only one thought
in mind at the time. They weren't unhappy with wages or
benefits self protection from administration is Number One
and still is. Because the board did nothing about it at the
time, they are now faced with having a negotiator that will
cost the public quite a sum of tax money.
The study made by the NWMF has beenbrought forth to
the public. I know all of the board has read it because they
are trying to use the NWMF study to make improvements,
which was the intent of the study. In addition we gained some
valuable information from the study and Mr. Blair and I feel
the board is wasting time by not acting on some of the
recommendations to keep our h s ital open.
It was pointed out that unless improvements are made
the regulating bodies of the state and federal governments
could close our hospital. Only one infraction may be needed
to close it, but a lot of effort would be needed to try to open it
again.
The public has asked that the administrator be replaced.
This still remains a big problem and I feel the public is still
dissatisfied. The board was asked to form an executive
board, a group they could turn to for advice as to finance,
construction, etc., but this too has not been done.
The board wants to get their own planning consultant to
come in and make a study. The feeling is that the study by
NWMF was complete and informative and that another study
does not need to be made. NWMF's study pointed out the
following: (1) Doctors are needed in the Boardman clinic;
doctors and a surgeon are needed in Heppner; a doctor and a
nurse practitioner in Condon and Fossil, (2) The hospital
must be brought back into shape as a hospital not just a first
aid station for a band-aid ; to stay open it must have patients,
(3) the nursing home should be moved to the upper level and
a new acute care unit added.
I feel enough information is before the board to make
some wise decisions. At the last meeting the board was again
told what must be done about the problems the public feels
they have. Until the present administration and the board
chairman al e removed and the board starts working for the
public, I feel Pioneer Memorial Hospital will not have the
public support it needs to survive.
The board has decided to contact several "manage
ment" firms and have them submit proposals within the next
30 days. The board has also been asked to explain several
budget items approved by voters that have not been
purchased.
I hope there will be results because I feel the public has a
right to know more about how and for what their money is
being used.
Merl Cantin
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SUBSCRIPTION RATE
$8.00 In Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler & Gilliam County; $10.00 elsewhere
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The Heppner
AZETT
Morrow County's Award-Winning Weekly Newspaper
The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Published every Thursday and entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, under the Act
of March 3, 1879. Second-class postage paid at Heppner, Oregon.
G.AA. Reed, Publisher Dolores Reed, Co-publisher Terry M. Hager, Managing Editor
Rick Steelhammer, News Editor Eileen Saling, Office Manager Justine Weatherford, Local Columnist
Gayle Rush, Composition Melissa Scott, Composition Cindi Doherty, AdvertisingOffice
Ron Jordan, Printer
Amtrak's 'Pioneer9 route
worth retaining
Editor:
Thank you for running the excellent article by Senator
Ken Jernstedt regarding Amtrak's popular "Pioneer" route.
Senator Jernstedt pointed out some of the real
advantages of rail travel that trains offer much in the way
of energy efficiency, minimal environmental impact,
comfort, safety, convenience and scenic enjoyment. Amtrak
is beneficial to the economy of Oregon, bring in tourists,
sightseers, college students, sports enthusiasts, business
people. Trains help preserve our enviroment by decreasing
dependence on the automobile and airplane, and their energy
efficiency helps lower our petroleum import requirement
with its associated inflation and balance-of-trade problems.
The Federal Department of Transportation has proposed
the discontinuance of the Amtrak "Pioneer", as well as
many others in the Amtrak system, basing its
recommendation solely upon financial considerations
without regard to people matters, enviromental concerns, or
quality of life. While it is clear that government waste must
be cut down, it should also be apparent that cutting a vital
public service such as Amtrak's "Pioneer" is not in the best
interest of Oregonians.
Unless our congressional representatives make a move
soon to counter the Department of Transportation proposal,
most long distance passenger trains will go down the tube. If
you have not yet written to your senators and
representatives, do so immediately to let them know your
views about Amtrak.
Sincerely,
Rodney A. Aho
Oregon Assoc. of Railway Passengers
Heppner
Volunteer help in lone
flood is lauded
Editor:
In the seven years that I have been a resident of Morrow
County, I have always felt that the people that live here are
very special. The recent flooding, particularly involving our
schools here in lone, has not only confirmed my feelings, but
has given me an even greater appreciation of the friends and
neighbors we have in this part of Oregon.
Space does not permit me to list all of the many people
who spontaneously volunteered their equipment, their
vehicles, and the many hours of work necessary to clean up
our buildings so that we were operating again on Monday
following the flood. Students, faculty and staff, townspeople,
farmers, forest service people, and others all contributed
greatly to this tremendous effort. The numbers working
varied from as many as 40 during the day to as few as 4 in the
evening, but" every single person was appreciated.
We still have a lot to do to repair the damage and clean
up our grounds, but we will make it, thanks to all of you. Just
saying thank you seems inadequate after such an effort.
Perhaps I can better express the way I feel by saying I'm
very proud to be one of you.
Chuck Starr
Principal
lone Schools
Free-running dogs attacked and killed more than 100
ewes at the R.A. Thompson ranch near Heppner 50 years ago
this week.
Thompson reported the canine attack to officials at the
Morrow County Courthouse, with hopes of collecting funds to
help defray his loss! A recently approved Oregon law
diverted a portion of money collected from dog taxes to
stockmen suffering losses caused by dogs.
During the same week in 1929, the Heppner Commercial
Club passed a resolution calling on the Oregon Legislature to
include the Heppner-Spray Highway in the state road
system. The Heppner-Spray route was nearing completion at
that time. The Commercial Club noted that once a 24-mile
link along Service Creek was completed between Spray and
Mitchell, traffic would be able to move from Walla Walla to
the California state line, passing through Heppner, Spray,
Mitchell, Prineville and Bend.
The news took a dimmer note, when it was learned that
Fannie Rood, a long-time resident of the Heppner area, died
at sea while making a long-planned cruise to the
Mediterranean. Mrs. Rood, widow of Edward Rood of
Heppner, succumbed to a heart ailment only the day after
her ship departed from New York. She was making the
voyage with two nieces.
But not all the news during this week a half century ago
was of life and death importance. Union Oil deliveryman
Frank .Conner dropped a 50 gallon oil drum on his toe,
breaking it, and E.E. Clark of Clark's Barber Shop put down
his razor and scissors for a week to tag sheep at the Frank
Wilkinson ranch. W.H.I. Padberg was advertising that he
was interested in buying pigs and "chicken feed horses."
High water problems were in the news 30 years ago this
week, as they are today.
The cause of the 1949 flooding was the same as that in
1979 a sudden thaw in the Willow Creek Basin. The 1949
flood blocked roads to Pendleton at Butter Creek and along
Hinton Creek, and covered Chase Street with more than a
foot of water. Basements were flooded with water and mud
across much of town, and the Union Pacific Depot was
surrounded by a lake of water for several hours, as was the
Turn A Lum Lumber yard. A railroad bridge washed out
between Lexington and lone, shutting down rail service to
Heppner for several weeks.
Heppner City Council had recently set aside funds for
building curbs and paving streets, but the flooding meant
that most of the funding would go to repairing flood damaged
streets.
Heppner's recently organized Boy Scout troop got its
first taste of active duty. Members were excused from school
early during the day the flooding hit, and helped direct traffic
around flood zones, kept tabs on the Morgan Street Bridge,
and helped residents move property away from the rising
water.
Heppner High School FFA members Ken Turner and
Elwayne Bergstrom had their Future Farmers' livestock
projects jeopardized by the flooding. Calves owned by the
two youths were stranded by raging floodwater along a fence
adjacent to the rodeo grounds. The boys waded into the
fairgrounds, broke out a section of fence, and drove the
calves to high ground, where they managed to put on halters
and lead them to safety.
A student protest was in the news 25 years ago this week,
when members of the student body at Boardman high school
went on strike.
About 30 students took part in the protest, which centered
on their not being given a day off for Washington's birthday.
The disgruntled students walked out of their classes and
congregated on the banks of the Columbia River, when
Morrow County Sheriff C.J.D. Bauman arrived at the scene
and sounded his siren.
According to a Gazette-Times account of the incident,
after Bauman "consulted" with several of the strike leaders
for a few minutes, the students agreed to return to classes.
"Maybe it was just coincidence, or the strength of the appeal
he made," the Gazette-Times commented. "However, the
sheriff is also the county truant officer."
Ten years ago this week, Morrow County School Board
members and county teacher's reached a salary agreement.
The terms of the new wage pact called for a base salary of
$6,100 per year up only slightly from the previous year's
base of $6,000. The teachers had been seeking a base of $6,400.
During the same week, Heppner High FFA member
David Hall, state FFA reporter, was in Salem meeting with
Gov. Tom McCall to outline state plans for commemorating
National FFA Week. Making the trip with Hall was Sherman
County High's FFA Sentinel Bill Bellamy, now District 55's
delegate in the Oregon House of Representatives.
Picture Credit
Officials have not yet determined what type of flood
disaster relief may be available to Morrow County
residents but were expected to do so by the end of the
week. lone was hardest hit by floodwaters, however
private residences in nearly all areas were damaged to
one extent or another. The Gazette-Times will report
disaster relief information as it becomes available.
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The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
676-9228